No-Sew Fleece Halloween Costumes

All Projects Skill Level 2:
Some experience necessary
free
No-Sew Fleece Halloween Costumes
Created & designed by Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores®
BASIC SUPPLIES & TOOLS:
• Tape measure
• Sharp scissors
• Chalk or marking pencil
• Straight pins
• Paper & pencil
• Hot glue gun, glue sticks or tacky glue
Costume Details
• 3/4-11⁄4 yds fleece: for each costume pc.,
fits 4- to 6-yr-old child
• 5/8" ribbon
• Stick-on Velcro® brand hook-&-loop fasteners
• Embellishments: felt, craft fur
DIRECTIONS: WS = Wrong side(s) RS = Right side(s)
WOF = Width of fabric. Allow glue to dry between steps.
Use tape measure to take measurements:
Around Head _______ inches
Chest
_______ inches
Waist
_______ inches
Hips
_______ inches
Back of neck to mid hip
_______ inches
Back of neck to knee
_______ inches
Back of neck to mid thigh
_______ inches
Waist to floor on outside of leg
_______ inches
Calf
_______ inches
Bicep
_______ inches
Shoulder to fingertips
_______ inches
B
A
B
no-sew fleece Halloween costumes
Indicates areas
areas to
Indicates
to be
be knotted
knotted
Indicates areas to be knotted
W
W
LL
measure down
length of
bicep of bicep
measure
down
length
measure down length of bicep
more projects, tips & techniques at Joann.com®
FIG A
FIG B
Pumpkin, Ladybug, Bee or Bat
Lion, Cat or Dog, Indian Princess or Witch
Basic body:
1. Cut 2 fleece pieces: (waist measurement plus 8") x (neck-to-knee measurement plus 6").
2. WS together, cut two 1/2"x4" fringes at top corner of 1 side (FIG A). Tie front to back layers with 2 knots.
3. Measure down from bottom knot, bicep measurement; mark armhole. From mark, cut 1/2"x4" fringes
into fabric layers, to garment bottom (FIG B). Knot front to back down the side; repeat on other side.
Trim fabric in armhole area (FIG C). To reduce bulk, trim fringe 1" to 11⁄2" from the knots.
4. To make slits for the ribbon to feed through, fold garment top down 2" all the way around & pin. Cut 1/4"
into the fold, 1" to 11⁄2" apart, all the way around. Remove pins & unfold. Repeat on costume bottom.
shirt OR dress:
1. Shirt: cut fleece: (widest body measurement) x (2x neck-to-mid-hip measurement)
DRESS: (widest body measurement) x (2x neck-to-knee measurement).
2. Sleeves: (2x bicep measurement + 8") x (shoulder-to-fingertip measurement+ 4".) Make 2.
3. Fold body piece. Mark center line with chalk or straight pins (FIG. D). Fold each sleeve.
Mark center point (FIG E).
4. Open body piece. Lay flat, WS up. Match center mark on a sleeve with center on body piece. Place WS
down. Start at very edge of sleeve piece, cut 1/2"x4" fringe through layers (FIG F). Tie sleeve to body.
Repeat on other sleeve.
5. Fold body piece at center line to form shirt shape, matching sleeves & side seams. Start on 1 side,
cut 1/2"x4" fringe through side layers, up to sleeve bottom (FIG G). Tie front to back (FIG H).
Repeat on other side. Cut 1/2"x4" fringes into both layers of fabric on 1 sleeve bottom.
Tie knots to close sleeve bottom. Repeat on other side. Knot a couple of fringes on the front to the
back fringes to close underarm gap. To reduce bulk, trim fringe 1" to 11⁄2" from knots.
6. Witch or Indian Princess dress: cut 1"x4" fringe across skirt bottom.
7. At top center cut a scoop just big enough for neck opening (FIG I). Cut a 4" slit at center back of scoop.
Attach 1" square of Velcro® to each side of opening. Add hot glue to adhesive for durability.
8. Fold bottoms of sleeves up 2" all the way around & pin. Cut 1/4" into fold 1" to 11⁄2" apart, all the way
around. Remove pins, unfold. Cut 2 ribbons to triple bicep measurement. Start at outside edge of a sleeve,
thread ribbon through slits, gather & tie a bow. Repeat for other sleeve.
Embellishments:
Pumpkin: sketch face design on paper as a pattern. Cut face pieces
from black felt. Apply glue to edge of each piece. Adhere to costume.
Ladybug: use a coffee mug as a pattern. Cut circles from black felt.
Apply glue to the edge of each piece & adhere to costume.
Bee:cut black felt stripes the costume width from knots-to-knots.
Apply glue to edge of each stripe & adhere.
Bat: glue craft fur to front of costume, below the slits.
Finishing:
Cut 2 pieces of ribbon equal to (chest measurement x 2). Begin at center
front at costume top. Thread 1st ribbon through slits to gather neck edge.
Repeat on costume bottom, beginning at center back. Have child slip
on costume; gather top & tie bow. Tie bottom up around waist for fullness
around the middle. Pair costume with a black turtleneck
& tights or leggings.
D
F
fold
fold
(mark
line)
(mark this
this line)
open fabric
open
fabric
Embellishments: Lion, Cat & Witch have no embellishment.
DOG: cut irregular spots of black felt. Adhere along edge of design.
Indian Princess: glue trim across bottom 3" above fringed hem.
H
G
E
C
Indicates areas to be knotted
Indicates areas to be knotted
fold
fold
W
W
cut
cut
off
out
FIG C
match
sleeve
match sleeve
center
center
center
line
center line
LL
cut
cut
off
out
Indicates areas to be knotted
LL
W
W
mark center
mark
center
FIG D
FIG E
body piece
body
piece
FIG F
FIG G
FIG H
Pants:
1. Cut fleece (hip measurement + 6") x (length of waist to floor measurement+ 6"). Make 2.
2. Fold a piece of fleece lengthwise, WS together. Mark halfway down with chalk or straight pins. Begin at
halfway mark, cut 1/2"x4" fringe on unfolded edge (FIG J).
Knots close to the inner leg seam (FIG K). Repeat with other piece.
3. Place 2 legs next to each other, with knots facing each other. Match top flap of 1 leg
piece with top flap on other, WS together. Cut 1/2"x4" fringes into layers & knot to
form center seam (FIG L & M). Repeat on other side. To reduce bulk, trim fringe 1"
to 11⁄2" from knots.
4. Fold pant top edge down 2" all the way around & pin. Cut 1/4" into fold
1" to 11⁄2” apart all the way around, remove pins, unfold. Repeat on
bottom of each leg.
5. Triple the calf measurement. Cut 2 ribbons to that length. Start at
outside edge of a leg & thread a ribbon through slits. Gather & tie bow.
Repeat for other leg.
6. Triple waist measurement. Cut 1 ribbon to length. Start at the
center front & thread ribbon through slits to gather waist. Tie a bow.
Embellishments:
Lion & Cat have no embellishment.
DOG: cut irregular spots of black felt.
Adhere along edge of design.
Accessories
Bat wings and Witch’s cape
1. Cut 1 piece of fleece the WOF x (the neck to mid thigh measurement).
2. To make slits to thread ribbon through, fold 1 long edge down 2", pin. Snip 1/4" into fold, 1"-11⁄2" apart,
all the way around. Remove pins; unfold.
3. Double waist measurement. Cut ribbon length. Thread ribbon from 1 side to other, through slits & gather.
Witch’s cape: embellish with Halloween buttons & trim.
Bat cape: trim lower edge to form upside-down scallops. Embellish with glitter paint.
Pumpkin & Bug Hats
1. Cut 1 piece of fleece (add 8" to around-the-head measurement) x 12". BUGS: cut two 1"x8" fleece strips.
PUMPKIN: cut one 1"x8" fleece strip.
2. F old fabric in half, measure & mark 4" from top on unfolded side (FIG N). Start at mark, snip 1/2"x4"
fringes, down to bottom. Knot fringes & trim. Turn knots to back.
Pumpkin hat: gather unknotted fleece & tie strip around it to hold in place. Trim top stem to length.
Cut 2 leaves of green felt & glue to stem.
Bee& ladybug: twist 2 black chenille stems together to form thick antennae with a roll on both ends.
Repeat for 2nd antennae. Glue 2" black pompom to end of each. Craft hat the same way as the pumpkin,
but instead of 1 central stem, cut fabric down center to knots & divide into 2 sections. Insert chenille stem
into each side, gather together & tie each with one of the 1"x8" strips. Secure the antennae with glue.
BEE & LADYBUG WINGS:
1. Trace 2 large dinner plates on foam core board, 2 " apart. Draw a 2"-wide "bridge" between the circles to
form a dumbbell shape. Cut out as 1 piece.
2. Cut two 11⁄2 yd pieces of black netting. Wrap one piece around one circular section and secure with a chenille
stem around the bridge. Repeat on the other side.
3. T o hold wings in place, loop 18" of black elastic through the chenille stem on each side and tie
to form arm bands. Insert arms through the bands and adjust elastic to fit.
J
M
L
K
I
Indicates areas to be knotted
cut scoop
and
slit
on back
cut scoop
and 4"
4" slit
on back
fold
halfway
halfway
FIG I
FIG J
FIG. K
FIG. L
FIG. M
Indian headband:
Cut a poster board: (around-the-head measurement + 2") x (width of the costume trim). Glue trim to poster
board & add feathers. Fit headband to child’s head & glue ends together.
Witches hat:
1. Roll poster board into cone shape. Glue to hold. Measure around cone shape for spot that
matches around-the-head measurement. Mark & cut evenly around cone. Cover & glue
black felt to the cone.
2. Cut large poster board circle for hat brim. From middle of circle, cut inner circle the
diameter of cone’s base.
3. Using black felt, cut 2 circles slightly larger than brim circle & cutout
the centers. Sandwich poster-board brim between felt circles. Glue inside
& outside edges. Make contrasting felt braid & glue around hat brim.
4. Make spider embellishment for hat, from chenille stems & pompoms
Indian headband:
Cat or Bat ears:
Cut 2 poster board triangles to size. Cut 4 slightly larger triangles from
black felt or fleece. Layer poster board ears between felt forms. Glue
edges, & ears to headband. Start at one end of the headband & wind fleece
strips or boa around headband to cover glue, anchor with more glue.
Dog ears:
1. Fleece: cut (add 8" to around-the-head measurement) x 18". Cut two
1"x8" strips. Fold fabric in half, measure & mark 8" from top of unfolded
side (FIG N). Start at mark, cut 1/2"x4" fringes down to bottom. Knot &
trim fringes. Turn knots to back.
2. Cut top fabric down center to knots & divide in 2 sections. Round each
section in shape of dog’s floppy ear. Gather one ear & tie with 1"x8"
fabric strips. Repeat. Embellish with spots.
N
W
W
Lion hat:
1. Cut 2 ear shapes from poster board. Cut 4 more the same shape, but slightly larger from matching fleece.
Sandwich poster-board ears between fleece. Glue edges.
2. Cut two 16"x14" pieces of fleece. WS together, snip 1/2"x4" fringes into layers from bottom to within
4" of top. Tie in knots. Start 4" from open side, repeat across top. Trim excess from
unknotted corner (FIG O).
3. Close hat. Trim excess 4" through layers; open hat (FIG P). Cut & bundle 6"x½" fleece fringes with 12 to 15
yarn pieces for every 2 fringes.
4. Open hat; lay bundle between every 2 fringes. Tie tightly, holding the bundle in place.
Repeat around entire opening.
5. Cut two 2"x12" fleece ties. Glue them inside.
Glue stand-up ears behind mane
Lion, Dog or Cat tails:
1. Lion & dog: cut three
2"x(3 times the tail length)
pieces of fleece. Braid;
tie off ends with fleece scrap.
Position & glue to pants or
back of shirt.
LION: add fleece & yarn end
to match mane.
2. C AT: cut feather boa & glue to
pants or back of shirt.
B
O
fold
P
Indicates areas
areas to
Indicates
to be
be knotted
knotted
LL
4"
4"
W
W
Indicates areas to be knotted
fold
cut out
cut
out
Please read and follow all manufacturers’ instructions for all tools and materials used.
Provide adult supervision if children participate in this project.
for more
for
more
LL
©2010 Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. All rights reserved.
measure down length of bicep
FIG N
FIG O
FIG P
P321-573 • 321-483